Due to the fact that, before the season had even started, it was pretty much a foregone conclusion that we would be drafting in the lottery (although I certainly expected to be closer to the 5th spot than to the 10th), I have only really been paying close attention to the top 10-15 prospects. Because the team has progressed as quickly as it has & is as flush in both quality & quantity when it comes to young talent as it is, I think the FO will have a short shortlist (not a typo) when it comes to prospects it will be willing to use a valuable asset (whichever lottery position we wind up at) on. I would imagine it is broken down into tiers (prospects they are willing to package the pick along with other significant assets to draft- i.e: trade into the top 5/prospects they are willing to package the pick along with another asset or 2 to draft- i.e: trade into the top 10/prospects they are willing to draft with the pick).
If I were to guess, I'd say (significance of assets willing to be packaged vary by player)
Trade into the top 5 to draft: Towns/Russell
Trade into the top 10 to draft: Mudiay/Okafor/Hezonja
Stand pat (or move up a spot or 2 without giving up any significant assets): Johnson/WCS/Porzingis
Winslow/Oubre/Looney/Booker/Turner/Kaminsky (+ whoever I likely forgot) could all be possibilities here but I really believe the team is looking for a player who either a) has the potential to become a superstar or b) has the skills to step in & immediately contribute significant minutes to a contending team from day 1. All of the players that I just listed definitely have serious potential but could all take several years before reaching it (a few of them may be ready to contribute immediately, but not in areas we need (this could change depending on certain personnel decisions)- other than D.Booker, tho if they did draft him they, would certainly have to believe he's more than just a 3pt specialist) , if they are able to do so at all. Unless there is a reasonable deal to be made to move up or someone they covet, slips to their draft range (or at least close enough- like Trey did in 2013), I think this FO will look to trade down, acquire an extra asset or 2 (in order to continue stockpiling for a larger deal down the road), & take a shot at drafting an under-the-radar prospect & hope they hit on that scratch ticket & end up with another Rudy Gobert.
So, my question is: who are the raw, physically gifted, lesser known prospects, projected towards the end of the 1st round, who could end up being this year's steal of the draft?
